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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

J. CHRISTIAN RIETHMLLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK.

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 16,749, dated March 3, 185'?.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J. CHRISTIAN RIETH- MLLER, of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safe-Locks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the lock, (the t-op plate of the case being removed)-Fig. 2 a section through the line I-II of Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 a section through the line III and IV of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 the same section, showing the key fully inserted into the lock and partly turned; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of detached parts, which will be described hereafter.

In all the igures the same letters of reference indicate like parts.

A, A, is the case of the lock. B the case plate.

a, a, are holes for the screws by which the case and its plate are fastened together.

C is a cylindrical projection on the plate, through which the keyhole is bored. D the bolt, b b blocks for supporting and guiding the bolt.

E is the bolt tumbler (shown separately in Fig. 1) F a box fastened to the case by screws 0 c, and secured in its position by ribs eZ fZ, cast on the case. The box F is shown separately in Fig. 5.

t t are a number of tumbler plates, inserted into the box F.

ZL ZL ZL are springs operating on the tumbler plates, each tumbler plate having its separate spring; the springs ZL h are cut out of two spring plates H, H, which are fastened to the bottom of the lock case on each side of the box F.

j j are two plates, fastened parallel to each other to the bolt D by screws Z eZ; there are two slots e, e, cut out in the sides of the box F, into which the plates J, J enter, as shown in Fig. 2. The tumbler plates are inserted into the opening g in the box F in the manner, as shown by the gures.

Fig. 6 shows the tumbler plates t t t t in their position in relation to each other (when not operated upon by the key) the one plate projecting, the other receding and so forth alternately on both sides; the grooves f, f, f', f in the side of the opening g, which receive and guide the tumblerplates being made correspondingly (as clearly shown in Fig. 5.), f, f, being deeper grooves, f, f', flatter grooves; the tumblerplates are separated so as to leave a small space between them, which is for the purpose, that each spring may operate freely on its tumblerplate,with-v out touching and disturbing the free operation of the tumbler plates next thereto h, is a plate, closing the hole g in the box F at its upper end; the springs h, yZL, having the tendency of forcing the tumbler plates against said top plate Zt, /c is a slotted opening in the plate z.. There are notches z', z', i', i', cut in the tumbler plates in different heights at random, and there are also notches Z, Z, Z, Z cut out in the parallel plates J, J. The plates J, J, are set in such a distance apart, that the tumbler plates t, t, t, t pass through the notches Z, Z, Z, Z. The bolt D is hereby prevented from moving, unless the tumbler plates t, t, are moved in such a position, that all the notches 2'., z', 2", z", are brought into one line with the parallel plates J, J in this case the tumbler plates t, t, will not interfere with the plates J, J and the bolt is then allowed to be moved.

Now the arrangement of the key is such, that it performs the two following operations, viz: operating on the tumblerplates t, t, so as to bring all the notches z', z, in one line, to allow the parallel plates T, T to pass through them; and secondly moving the bolt, (either forward or backward). For this purpose the key G is provided at its end with a bitplate m, whose pin a is inserted into a hole, bored into the butt end of the key-shank, and is allowed to turn freely in it. The bitplate is notched or shaped so that (when the key is introduced into the lock) it presses the tumblerplates t, t, down (as shown in Fig. 4) precisely into such a position, as to bring all the notches z', z", into the above said position in relation to the parallel plates T, T. The key is further provided with the arms 0, 0, which fit into the corresponding notches u, u, in the bolt tumbler E. Zhen the key is turned, the bit plate will retain its position, the plate L through which the bit plate passes, preventing its turning with the key, but the tumbler E will be turned and impart motion te the bolt D. The bolt tumbler, to operate the bolt, is provided with the projection p, which enters into the opening in the bolt; when turned by the key, it will strike the side of the notch g in the bolt, and thus move the bolt, until, in continuing its circular motion, the projection 29 leaves the notch Q again. Thus the bolt is moved forward or backward. Zhen the bolt tumbler` or key is turned one half of a revolution, the key can be withdrawn, when the tumblerplates t, Z", will spring back again in their original position, passing through the notches Z, Z, in the parallel plates, and securing thus the bolt in its position, as above shown. The notches Z, Z, must be precisely corresponding with the tumbler plates, when the bolt is in locked or unlocked position.

In order to secure the bolt tumbler E in its position when the bolt is in its locked or unlocked position, there is a tongue r provided on the last tumblerplate-Z, which projects out above the plate Z1, when the tumblerplates are not pressed down, entering into one of recesses s or s in the bolt tumbler E; the two recesses being made so that the one (s) is entered by the tongue when the bolt is in its forward, and the other (.3), when the bolt is in its backward position. This arrangement of the tongue 1 and recesses s, s', in the bolt tumbler is of importance, as a true position of the lock tumbler has to be insured in order to introduce or to withdraw the key without hindrance; for if the bolt tumbler would be out of its true position, the bit plate could not pass through the same.

I am aware, that tumblerplates with notches, similar to those herein described, have been used before in locks and I therefore disclaim distinctly the use of the same, but

What I do claim is- 1. The peculiar arrangement of the tumblerplates Z, t', in the box F, viz: the tumblerplates projecting and receding alternately sidewise, their guiding grooves f, f', f, f', in the box F being made accordingly deeper and shallower alternately, and also separating the tumblerplates by a small space; this whole arrangement of the plates t, being for the purpose of allowing each spring h, h to act on its respective tumblerplate freely, without interfering with or disturbing the free play and action of the plates or springs adjoining.

2. And I further claim, the providing of one of the tumblerplates with the tongue r, and the recesses s, s in the bolt tumbler E, operating together as described, and for the purpose of securing the bolt tumbler E in its position when the lock is in its locked or unlocked state.-

3. And I further claim, the combination of the key and bitplate. I am perfectly aware Vthat bitplates and keys of similar construction have been used before separately, and I therefore do not claim any of these parts when used separately, but I claim the same, when combined in the manner, substantially as described.

J. CHRISTIAN RIETHMLLER.

In presence of- AUD. MCMASTER, HENRY Moslim'. 

